RNs who guide nursing students during clinicals (and do a dang good job of it!)

I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of the nurses that help future nurses everyday while they are in the clinical setting. Nursing students can really tell who is passionate about teaching and precepting and it makes a whirl-wind of difference to our clinical experience. I can't wait until I'm a nurse so I can do that for a special student one day.

I am so glad you have come across clinical instructors that are passionate about the nursing profession! Nurses that have a passion for this profession have a passion for fostering good experiences and supporting student nurses in their journey to becoming an RN.
I teach nursing clinical in an undergraduate program and have the same passion for education as I do as a nurse. You are entering a field that is incredibly challenging on many levels. Outside of becoming clinically competent, you will have experiences that make you think philosophically about the world, your relationships and your way of thinking and being. You begin to see the world differently... more brightly and multi-dimensional. You will question the healthcare system and how it makes it difficult to provide the holistic care patients and families deserve and you would want for your loved ones.

You have days you may cry or have a flood of emotions and thoughts of, "I don't understand..." This is all okay. Always go toward those that are supportive, kind and willing to offer advice and their knowledge. Do not spend too much time thinking about or taking personally, those that do not have these qualities. Keep in mind, even those with "rough personalities" or a different personality than our own may have these qualities. We all express ourselves differently.

Through nursing school and beginning your work as an RN, you develop a personal philosophy of what nursing is and means to you. Stand by this! Do not go along with the crowd. Dive into research articles, think about and practice evidenced-based practice. Further your education when it is the right time for you. If you at some point, leave the bedside, never forget where you came from and where the heart of nursing is. The bedside. Always advocate for our profession and not an institution.

Keep your enthusiasm and never let any person or nurse take that away from you! I wish you the best in your studies and welcome you into our beautiful profession!

Sep 19, '13

I am also grateful for nurses that let me work with them during clinicals. Even aside from my clinical instructor, who, by the virtue of his/her job, signed up to work with students; I'm thankful for that RN that showed up at 7 AM only to be told "Oh hello! You're Susie? My name is Emily and I'm working with your patients X, Y and Z today." They don't know in advance they have students and I know for a FACT that some days we are EXHAUSTING. But I am so, so grateful for all of them, particularly those that take the time to show me how to do things, save me some skills on their other patients, and even THANK me at the end of the day for my help. My gosh. I get a little teary thinking about all of the nurses that have helped shape me into the (nearly finished) nursing student I am today.

Sep 19, '13

I love nursing students, love having them on the floor, love having them work with me to take care of my pts.

But I am so, so grateful for all of them, particularly those that take the time to show me how to do things, save me some skills on their other patients, and even THANK me at the end of the day for my help.

I knew I'd found the hospital I wanted to work in upon graduation when I started work there as a CNA and just about every single nurse thanked me for my help and showed appreciation at the end of each shift. You can't fake true teamwork, and it's amazing when it happens.

I, too, am always incredibly grateful to those who take time they don't really have to teach us their craft. A hearty thanks is definitely in order for everybody who teaches us how to be better.

I am so glad you have come across clinical instructors that are passionate about the nursing profession! Nurses that have a passion for this profession have a passion for fostering good experiences and supporting student nurses in their journey to becoming an RN.
I teach nursing clinical in an undergraduate program and have the same passion for education as I do as a nurse. You are entering a field that is incredibly challenging on many levels. Outside of becoming clinically competent, you will have experiences that make you think philosophically about the world, your relationships and your way of thinking and being. You begin to see the world differently... more brightly and multi-dimensional. You will question the healthcare system and how it makes it difficult to provide the holistic care patients and families deserve and you would want for your loved ones.

You have days you may cry or have a flood of emotions and thoughts of, "I don't understand..." This is all okay. Always go toward those that are supportive, kind and willing to offer advice and their knowledge. Do not spend too much time thinking about or taking personally, those that do not have these qualities. Keep in mind, even those with "rough personalities" or a different personality than our own may have these qualities. We all express ourselves differently.

Through nursing school and beginning your work as an RN, you develop a personal philosophy of what nursing is and means to you. Stand by this! Do not go along with the crowd. Dive into research articles, think about and practice evidenced-based practice. Further your education when it is the right time for you. If you at some point, leave the bedside, never forget where you came from and where the heart of nursing is. The bedside. Always advocate for our profession and not an institution.

Keep your enthusiasm and never let any person or nurse take that away from you! I wish you the best in your studies and welcome you into our beautiful profession!

Better advice has never been spoken. Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, you must be a real blessing to your students!

I am also grateful for nurses that let me work with them during clinicals. Even aside from my clinical instructor, who, by the virtue of his/her job, signed up to work with students; I'm thankful for that RN that showed up at 7 AM only to be told "Oh hello! You're Susie? My name is Emily and I'm working with your patients X, Y and Z today." They don't know in advance they have students and I know for a FACT that some days we are EXHAUSTING. But I am so, so grateful for all of them, particularly those that take the time to show me how to do things, save me some skills on their other patients, and even THANK me at the end of the day for my help. My gosh. I get a little teary thinking about all of the nurses that have helped shape me into the (nearly finished) nursing student I am today.

I know exactly what you mean. Nurses that take us in, whether they expected us or not, and show us how to do things step by step are amazing! I am in my 3rd semester and I'm in pediatric clinicals. I'll be honest, I had no prior interest in pediatrics before this semester, but now I have found my calling! Those nurses are awesome and I want to be just like them someday. Best of luck to you in your last semester(s)!

No, thank YOU! Your passion truly shows and it is contagious. Can't wait to be just like you someday

Sep 20, '13

I also want to say thank you for taking the time out to teaching us right from wrong what to do and what not to do when the state is around. I have had some awesome nurses train me in clinical's what a wonderful experience I have had. Thank you! 😊

Sep 20, '13

The quote "nurses eat their young" was not true at all for me after i graduated. The nurses I work with now are all very intelligent and teach the new nurses/student nurses at a pace that they can handle. Nursing is a great field to be in!

The quote "nurses eat their young" was not true at all for me after i graduated. The nurses I work with now are all very intelligent and teach the new nurses/student nurses at a pace that they can handle. Nursing is a great field to be in!

I'm glad you have had that experience, Fire Bird. Some nurses I have come across let it be known dramatically that they did not want a student. It's very disheartening when that happens, but then you get an awesome nurse and all is well in the world!